Highlights
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA offers a “what if?” scenario diverging from the franchise’s canon, imagining a world where the Third Impact was prevented and the characters have settled into a new normal.
- The light novel series features familiar characters like Shinji and Asuka, who have matured and now pilot enhanced versions of their EVAs to defend against new threats called “Angel Carriers”.
- ANIMA presents a different tone and style compared to the original series, with designs evolved by the original mecha designer and the potential for an anime adaptation in the future.
Back in 2007, while Neon Genesis Evangelion‘s creator, Hideaki Anno, was rebuilding the franchise for a new generation, another man decided not to rebuild it, but rather to expand upon it. Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA imagines a timeline where Shinji Ikari prevents the Third Impact, and with a new audiobook fast approaching, now’s the perfect time to learn about it.
Serialized in Dengeki Hobby Magazine starting in January 2008, ANIMA is a light novel series written by Ikuto Yamashita, the mechanical designer behind both the original Evangelion and the rebuilds. The series was published across five volumes released between 2017 and 2019 with an English language release distributed by Seven Seas Entertainment at the start of 2019.
What is Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA?
Apart from certain events being altered, such as Kaji’s ultimate fate, Evangelion ANIMA diverges from the canon most significantly during the events of 1997’s The End of Evangelion. Instead of an apocalyptic reaping of humanity’s souls triggered by the Third Impact, there was no impact to begin with. The world was saved, and the story begins three years following this.
ANIMA is a “what if?” that is intriguing in the same way that the time-skip in Evangelion 3.33 is inherently fascinating. Everything is different, but with enough time passed, the characters have settled into a new normal. Shinji and Asuka are now older, except unlike in the rebuilds where their bodies didn’t change due to the “curse of the EVAs,” they have matured.
Nerv has been rebuilt, as has Tokyo-3, and Misato is now in command. Meanwhile, the old HQ is frozen in time, along with several of the characters from the original series, such as Gendo and Ritsuko. Shinji and Asuka are still pilots of enhanced models of their EVAs, just in case the angels ever return. Rei returns as well, though keeping with series tradition, she’s never quite the same as she used to be.
Rei-III, named Trois, splits herself into multiple clones which form an orbital defense grid of EVAs monitoring for possible Angel attacks. In the inciting incident of Volume 1, one of Trois’ clones malfunctions and sets itself on a course for Tokyo-III, prompting Shinji and Asuka to intercept. A new threat has indeed appeared, but it’s nothing like before. Instead, the new threats are EVA models possessed by Angels, called “Angel Carriers.”
There are five volumes in total, all of which have been published in English, and there’s even more reason to be excited about this story that’s yet to come. On December 4, 2023, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that the series would be receiving an English audiobook, and Tiffany Grant, the original English voice actress for Asuka Langley Soryu, would be the narrator. It is set to be released on December 14.
Why Evangelion Fans Should Care
ANIMA is decidedly different from the typical Evangelion fare in terms of presentation and tone, and that is perhaps the most crucial thing to understand before going into it. This has led to some divisive reception among longtime fans, but it shouldn’t be understated how much credibility it retains being captained by the designer behind the mecha of this entire franchise.
Similar to how the rebuilds were an opportunity to experiment with crazy new ideas and concepts, ANIMA takes familiar designs and evolves them to fit Yamashita’s distinct vision. Unit-01 and Unit-02 both receive some insane upgrades, from new armor to huge swords and the Angel Carriers look even more imposing, pitting EVA against EVA like never before.
With a familiar voice returning to read the story, it wouldn’t be a surprise if ANIMA sees a surge in interest from parts of the fanbase who have yet to learn about it, much less get around to reading it. Furthermore, one wonders if a possible anime adaptation of ANIMA is in the cards for the future. Hideaki Anno has stated in the past that he welcomes new stories from new creators under the Evangelion name.
During the 2015 Japan Animator Expo alone, there were such works as Evangelion: Another Impact or Neon Genesis Impacts. While both were only short films, they were fresh and original, either in their narrative content or visual style, and were received quite well by fans. If the franchise were ever to receive a new series, an adaptation of Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA could be a chance to see if the franchise truly can stand without Anno’s guiding hand.
Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA is available in North America through Seven Seas Entertainment.
Source: Seven Seas Entertainment, Anime News Network